To your health: Organizations aim to educate public

Thursday

Aug 1, 2013 at 10:50 AM

Kevin Dickinson

National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) begins today. In coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Public Health Information Coalition and efforts by local medical institutions, NIAM aims to educate on the importance of immunizations for public health and improve national coverage levels.The World Health Organization's website credits immunizations with averting 2-3 million deaths annually from the diseases diphtheria, tetanus, measles and whooping cough. However, it also notes "an estimated 22 million infants worldwide are still missing out on basic vaccines."Immunization is a process where the immune system is strengthened against infectious diseases. A typical form of immunization is the vaccine, a solution containing a small amount of a virus or bacteria. When injected into the body, the vaccine's pathogen strengthens the body's immune system by forcing it to adapt itself to combat the disease and future encounters with it.Kara LaMere, immunization coordinator for the Siskiyou County Health and Human Services Agency, mentioned two major benefits to immunization.The first is community immunity, which occurs when a large enough percentage of the population is immunized against a disease – preventing the spread of the disease to more than a few unimmunized members."An outbreak is more easily passed, the less people that are vaccinated," LaMere said, adding that different diseases have a different threshold or percentage of the population who must be immunized for the disease to no longer persevere.The second is cocooning, which is much like community immunity only on a smaller scale.LaMere provided the example of a baby too young to receive certain vaccines. If the people who have contact with the infant, such as parents, physicians, teachers and so on, are immunized, then the baby will also be protected, or "cocooned," from the disease.She cited the 2010 rash of baby deaths in California from whooping cough due to a lack of cocooning.The California School Immunization Law requires all children attending public and private elementary and secondary schools, child care centers, family day cares, nursery schools and so on to have certain immunizations, according to the National Vaccine Information Center's website, ShotsforSchool.org.However, LaMere pointed out the state provides two exemptions for opting out of immunizations. A medical exemption can be claimed for children who would be negatively affected by immunization, such as allergic reactions or immune system deficiencies. Parents who might have a moral, ethical or religious conflict over vaccines can choose the personal belief exemption.A press release from the Siskiyou County Health and Human Services Agency noted that Siskiyou County ranked 7th highest in the state for students claiming personal belief exemptions last year.Nan Wishner, certified homeopath, said she believes people need to be careful when choosing to receive a vaccine. "When you are given a vaccine," she said, "you're bypassing every natural defense your body has." She quoted recent studies suggesting receivers of flu vaccines were more likely to contract HINI, and another study by John B Classen showing a link between vaccines and Type 1 Diabetes, further expounding a link between Type 1 Diabetes and Autism. Both LaMere and Wishner agree the ultimate decision is a personal one."We support whatever decision that parents make," LaMere said. Meanwhile, Wishner commented the choice should be one made by individuals or parents in the presence of good information.The CDC named immunization one of the top 10 public health achievements of the 20th century, along with workplace safety, healthier foods, and understanding tobacco's health hazards. According to its website, these and other advancements in public health are acknowledged with "adding 25 years life expectancy of the people in the United States in this century."Immunizations can be received at your local physician, pharmacy or the Siskiyou County Public Heath Department's clinics. A comprehensive listing of immunization clinics throughout August can be found on page 6 in the July 29 edition of the Siskiyou Daily News.